Multipurpose plastic container



Jan. 3, 1967 J. o. M MEEKIN 3,295,796

MULTIPURPOSE PLASTIC CONTAINER Filed June 10, 1964 1 N VEN TOR.

JOHN O. McMEEKlN ATTORNEY United States Patent Oflfice 3,295,7tl6 MULTIPURPOSE PLASTIC CONTAINER John O. McMeekin, Valencia, Pa., assignor to Hipwell Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed June 10, 1964, Ser. No. 374,031 2 Claims. (Cl. 2151) This invention relates to a container, and more particularly to a plastic container which is useful, initially, for storing household detergents and bleaches and which, when empty, is convertible to a flashlight.

The principal objects of the present invention include:

To provide a container which has multiple uses;

To provide a container which, when empty, is convertible for use as a flashlight;

To provide a container formed from plastic which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and of pleasing configuration;

To provide a container formed from plastic with upper and lower portions which are easily severable, the lower portion being adapted for use as the shell of a flashlight; and

T provide a plastic container, the lower portion of which is convertible for use as a flashlight, having a severable projection formed on said lower portion which provides an opening for receiving the switch of the laterfor'med flashlight.

Many modern household detergents and bleaches are stored and offered for sale in disposable plastic containers. These plastic containers are often very attractive but still are useful only as containers. More often than not, the containers are thrown away since no other use can be made of them.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a plastic container which is useful, initially, for storing modern household detergents and bleaches and which, when empty, may be converted to a relatively lightweight, powerful flashlight. The present container may be formed from any suitable plastic material and preferably formed from polyethylene.

The present container is formed with an attractive configuration, including a lower portion and an upper portion. Means is provided for facilitating the severance of the upper portion from the lower portion. The lower portion is provided with a handle which is formed integral therewith and with a button-like projection of thin-walled construction which also is severable. When the buttonlike projection is severed from the lower body portion there is provided an opening which is adapted to receive a switch of the later-formed flashlight.

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;

FIGURE 1 is a front view of the present container as used for storing household detergents or bleaches;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1, illustrating a depression formed in the container for facilitating the severance of the upper and lower portions of the container;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, further illustrating parts of the present container;

FIG. 4 is a back view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating a flashlight formed from the lower portion of the present container; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view, of a portion of the flashlight illustrated in FIG. 5 and taken along the same 7 0 plane as FIG. 3, illustrating the various components of the completed flashlight.

3,295,796 Patented Jan. 3, 1967 Reference is now directed to FIG. 1 wherein there is illustrated a container, generally indicated by the numeral 10, having a relatively thin-walled body 12 comprising an upper body portion 14 and a generally rectangular lower body portion 16.

The upper body portion 14 includes a threaded neck portion 18 which is adapted to threadedly receive a cap 2h shown spaced therefrom. The upper body portion 14 may be formed with any attractive configuration, such as the hour glass cOnfiguration specifically illustrated in FIG. 1.

As stated above, the present container 10 includes upper and lower body portions which are separable where by one of said portions is convertible for use as the shell of a flashlight. To facilitate the severance of the upper and lower body portions 14, 16, the container 10 is provided with a groove 22, shown in FIGS. 1-3, inclusive, which extends transversely of the container in to define a transverse cutting plane indicated by the dasheddot line 24. The groove 22 defines the juncture between the upper body portion 14 and the lower body portion 16 and also serves as a guideway for guiding a cutting implement, such as the knife blade as shown in dotted outline in FIG. 2, during the severance of the upper body portion 14- from the lower body portion 16. The groove 22 preferably extends completely around the periphery of the container 10. To further facilitate the severance of the upper and lower body portions 14, 16, the container 10 is provided with at least one depression 28 which is formed along the groove 22. As can best be seen in FIG. 2, the wall of the body 12 in the region of the depression 28 is thinner than the remainder of the wall 12. Therefore, the knife blade 26 will meet with a minimum of resistance when cutting through the wall of the container lid in the region of the depression 28. The depression 28 thus serves as a starting point for severing the upper body portion 14 from the lower body portion 16. After the initial entrance of the knife blade 26 through the wall 12, the knife blade 26 is thereafter guided around the periphery of the container It} by the groove 22.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the lower body portion 16 is generally rectangular and includes a handle 30 formed integral therewith. The handle 39 preferably is of hollow construction so as to increase the capacity of the container 10. The lower body portion 16 includes an inset cylindrical wall portion 32 formed with a thread 34. The inset cylindrical wall portion 32 terminates at the groove 22. Adjacent to the inset cylindrical wall portion 32 is an enlarged radial hub 36 which also is cylindrical and to which is integrally connected one end of the handle 30. The enlarged radial hub as includes a transverse face 38 which, as will be described, is engaged by a lens and lamp assembly of the laterformed flashlight.

The radial hub 36 also has formed therein a buttonlike projection 45), also of hollow construction. The projection 49 preferably is formed in the region between the handle and the inset cylindrical wall portion 32. The button-like projection 40 is adapted to be cut whereby an opening 42 will be provided for receiving a switch of the laterformed flashlight. The lower body portion 16 also is provided with a base 44 which is formed integral with the enlarged radial hub 36. As will be described, the completed flashlight will rest on the base 44 and the extreme opposite end of the lower body portion 16.

In accordance with the present invention, then, there is provided a container which is useful in the sales promotion of the product contained therein. After the product has been used, the consumer may purchase, for a nominal fee, the additional parts necessary for forming the flashlight. The container, however, is converted for use as a flashlight merely by severing the upper portion 14 from the lower portion 16, which severance is facilitated by the depression 28 and the groove 22, and by severing the button-like projection 40.

The completed flashlight and its principal internal components as installed in the lower body portion 16, are illustrated in FIGS. and 6, respectively. In FIG. 5, a flashlight 46 is shown formed from the lower body portion 16 of the container of FIG. 1, and includes a lens and lamp assembly 48 as well as a switch 50. The flashlight 46 is shown resting on a surface schematically illustrated at 52.

As can be seen in FIG. 6, a battery 54, such as a square six-volt battery, is inserted within the lower body portion 16. The square configuration of the lower body portion 16 is complementary to the square configuration of the battery 54 whereby the battery 54 fits snugly within the lower body portion 16. The battery '54 includes positive and negative terminals 56, 58, respectively. A switch 69 includes a threaded shaft 62 which extends through the opening 42 provided in the radial hub 36. A nut 64 is threaded on the shaft 62 and rigidly secures the switch 60 to the lower body portion 16. Extending from the switch 60 are two conductor-s 66, 68. The conductor 66 extends to the positive terminal 56 of the battery 54. The conductor 68 extends to and is electrically connected with a lamp 70 shown in phantom outline. The lamp 7 0 is disposed within a housing 72 which is electrically connected to the negative terminal 58 of the battery 54. The lamp and lens assembly 46 is of standard configuration and includes a parabolic mirror 74 within which the lamp 70 is centered. Ahead of the mirror 74 is a transparent window 76 which is in overlying relation therewith. A ring-like member 78 is internally threaded and is received on the inset cylindrical wall portion 32 of the lower body portion 16. The ring-like member 78 includes a radially inwardly extending annular flange 80 which cooperates with a gasket 82 and the free end of the inset cylindrical wall portion 32 for clamping the mirror 74 and transparent window 76 therebetween. The ringlike member 78 also includes a hood 84.

To construct the flashlight 46, the consumer prepares the lower body portion 16 by severing the upper body portion 14 therefrom and by severing the button-like projection 40. The conductor 66 is clipped to the positive terminal 56 and the battery 54 is inserted within the lower body portion 16. The switch 60 is secured to the enlarged radial hub 36 by extending the shaft 62 through the opening 42 and by tightening the nut 64. Thereafter, the conductor 68 is clipped to the housing 72 whereupon the ring-like member 78 is threaded onto the inset cylindrical wall portion 32. The flashlight is now ready for use,

The resulting flashlight, being formed from a tough plastic material, is of rugged construction and therefore will not be easily broken. Furthermore, the resulting flashlight is weatherproof and rustproof. Still further through the use of lightweight plastic materials, the resulting flashlight will float it accidentally dropped into water.

Although the present invention has been illustrated in connection with one specific embodiment, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and arrangement of parts to suit requirements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A plastic container for granular solids or liquids which when empty is adapted for conversion to a flashlight, comprising: a hollow thin-walled body formed with a generally rectangular lower body portion which is convertible to the shell of a flashlight and an upper body portion adapted to receive a cap for sealing said container; a groove formed in said body which extends transversely around the periphery of said body to define the juncture of said upper body portion with said lower body portion, said groove comprising a guideway for guiding a cutting implement during severance of said upper and lower body portions; said lower body portion having an inset cylindrical shoulder terminating at said groove; threads formed on said inset cylindrical shoulder, said shoulder being adapted to threa-dedly receive the lens and lamp assembly of a flashlight; a handle integral with said lower body'portion; and a button-like projection formed in said lower body portion between said handle and said shoulder, said projection being hollow whereby upon severance thereof from said lower body portion an aperture is formed for receiving the switch of the laterformed flashlight.

2. The container of claim 1 including a plurality of spaced-apart depressions formed in said groove, the wall of said body at said depressions being thinner than the remainder of said body whereby severance of said upper and lower portions is facilitated.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,472,088 10/1923 Puckett 206-47 3,100,576 8/1963 Frank 215-l.5 3,171,580 3/1965 Davis 2151.5

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Examiner.

R. PESHQCK, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PLASTIC CONTAINER FOR GRANULAR SOLIDS OR LIQUIDS WHICH WHEN EMPTY IS ADAPTED FOR CONVERSION TO A FLASHLIGHT, COMPRISING: A HOLLOW THIN-WALLED BODY FORMED WITH A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR LOWER BODY PORTION WHICH IS CONVERTIBLE TO THE SHELL OF A FLASHLIGHT AND AN UPPER BODY PORTION ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A CAP FOR SEALING SAID CONTAINER; A GROOVE FORMED IN SAID BODY WHICH EXTENDS TRANSVERSELY AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID BODY TO DEFINE THE JUNCTURE OF SAID UPPER BODY PORTION WITH SAID LOWER BODY PORTION, SAID GROOVE COMPRISING A GUIDEWAY FOR GUIDING A CUTTING IMPLEMENT DURING SEVERANCE OF SAID UPPER AND LOWER BODY PORTIONS; SAID LOWER BODY PORTION HAVING AN INSET CYLINDRICAL SHOULDER ERMINATING AT SAID GROOVE; THREADS FORMED ON SAID INSET CYLINDRICAL SHOULDER, SAID SHOULDER BEING ADAPTED TO THREADEDLY RECEIVE THE LENS AND LAMP ASSEMBLY OF A FLASHLIGHT; A HANDLE INTEGRAL WITH SAID LOWER BODY PORTION; AND A BUTTON-LIKE PROJECTIN FORMED IN SAID LOWER BODY PORTION BETWEEN SAID HANDLE AND SAID SHOULDER, SAID PROJECTION BEING HOLLOW WHEREBY UPON SEVERANCE THEREOF FROM SAID LOWER BODY PORTION AN APERTURE IS FORMED FOR RECEIVING THE SWITCH OF THE LATERFORMED FLASHLIGHT. 